"We have agreed with Australia that we will ask additional
countries to contribute - Fiji, Singapore, Philippines maybe," he
said. <http://maxads.ruralpress.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=ac653a1e>
[]

"Each contributing country would have to pick up the bill unlike a
peacekeeping force where it is paid for by the UN budget."

Dr Ramos Horta was speaking at the Australian National University after
talks at Parliament House with Prime Minister John Howard.

More than 3200 international peacekeepers from Australia, New Zealand,
Malaysia and Portugal were deployed to East Timor after the riots in May.

More than 30 people were killed when the government's dismissal of over
a third of its armed forces sparked protests that degenerated into battles
between rival factions of the military and police and rival street gangs.

International police deployed along with troops last month formally
handed over their authority to the UN under a new mission set up by the
Security Council in August. A UN inquiry into the riots that crippled Dili
could be released on Monday, Dr Ramos Horta said.

The report of the UN Independent Special Commission of Inquiry, which
will name people it believes are responsible, was due to be released last
week. It is believed its release was delayed because of fears that its
publication could spark more violence.

Mr Howard said Australian peacekeepers would stay in Timor at least
until elections due in May next year, while indicated the number could be
reduced.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said Australian troops
should not be withdrawn from East Timor before the country's elections
next year because of the risk of further unrest.

Dr Ramos Horta said he hoped the elections would be peaceful.

However, a culture of violence hung over his country, showing up as
domestic violence and use of guns to settle arguments.

Most of the 150,000 people who fled to refugee camps during this year's
riots were still too afraid to return home, he said.

Dr Ramos Horta was reunited with Jim Dunn, a former Australian diplomat
who was consul in Portuguese Timor at the time of the Indonesian invasion
in 1975.